River Valley School - Calgary

The River Valley School is an amazing place! My kids were enrolled in the CBE system and the kids were coming home bored, they were not learning basic writing and arithmetic skills and they did not want to go to school. Troubled by this, my wife and I set out to find another alternative. We looked a long time because we wanted a school that would get our kids excited to learn again. We also wanted a place that was diverse, felt warm and welcoming and had high academic standards. River Valley School is just such a place. The teachers are simply amazing! The student to teacher ratio is very low (teacher and an assistant in every class) and the school encourages children from all walks of life and backgrounds. River Valley helped our kids reach a very high academic level and best of all.... My kids looked forward to going to school each and every day!

Our family has been involved with River Valley School for the past 3 years and it has been an exceptional experience. When we were first exploring options for kindergarten and elementary school we were looking for a place that would offer small class sizes, a positive learning focus and an environment that would let children be who they are academically and creatively. Besides meeting all our original goals River Valley has offered more than we ever expected. It is a space where every child is warmly welcomed each and everyday. It is a learning environment that is innovative and full of wonder. It is a structure that is flexible and adaptive to meeting the learning needs of individual students. It is a community that is supportive, safe and deeply caring. Choosing River Valley has been the best decision we could have made regarding education and we know will provide for a solid foundation in the years ahead. Do yourself a favour and have a tour of River Valley School - I know you will come away feeling “This is where my child belongs!”

Our children are in their sixth year attending RVS. In addition to the school curriculum, they have attended the integrated before and after school care and participated in the summer care program. We were referred to the school by friends and it was convenient during our relocation to a nearby neighbourhood. We weren’t necessarily committed to staying at the school long-term, but the character of the institution, small class sizes, thoughtful programming and genuine staff convinced us that the education offered by the school is notably superior to most other available options. The school has undergone significant changes since our enrolment, from the facility arrangement to the programming to the leadership. Granted, RVS is relatively young, but it has evolved immensely in the past few years to establish a clear identity and future vision, with strong leadership at the helm. The school prides itself on fostering contributive, well-rounded members of society who think critically, are inquisitive, and generally strive to improve the world around them. Bold words, perhaps, but this school is developing future leaders. We feel that RVS is setting our children up to be successful in life, regardless of the path they choose. No educational institution is perfect. Under previous leadership and ill-suited instruction, one of our children struggled behaviourally. During this period we did not feel supported by the school, nor that the needs of our child was its priority. This very nearly led to our departure from RVS. However, through changes to leadership and staff, the school has addressed the root cause of our concerns. The current leadership and staff are generally excellent and are appropriately aligned with the school priorities and objectives, with the best interests of the students at the forefront. It is not inexpensive to have our children attend this school, but we are fortunate to be in a position where it is an option for us. We have decided to prioritize their development with confidence that the future returns will be well worth the investment. We highly recommend that those evaluating the educational options for their children in the Calgary area strongly consider RVS as a top candidate.

Beautiful, beautiful school -- as with any organization, it is only as good as the administrators in charge. In this respect, River Valley shines above all others, as a rare seashell in a sea of shells for its Principal not only encourages excellence in her staff and students, but leads the way with extraordinary kindness, wedding academics with fine character. Register today. You will not be disappointed.

We transitioned to River Valley from a private school in The US in 2020 when Covid was on the rise. They were going into grade 3 and 5. With a warm welcome and nurturing environment, my kids thrived rather quickly. We hadn't lived in Canada for awhile, so I was concerned about their transition. Happy children are a key to success, and I see that each day at pickup.

My children have been attending this school for 2 years now and absolutely LOVE it. We were so lucky to have been recommended this place via a friend when we moved to Calgary. The teachers are kind and caring, passionate about seeing the children succeed and the academic program is great.

We have been so fortunate to find such a great community in RIver Valley School. From the administration to the teachers to all the support staff, the care for our sons and their learning has been extraordinary. We have especially appreciated the great teacher:student ratio and the individualized attention our sons received. We’ve also loved the specialist classes (French, drama, music, art), which have given our sons a well-rounded education. We are absolutely confident we chose the right school with RVS!

River Valley is an absolutely lovely school! What drew us here initially was the all day kindergarten and before/after school care. We wanted our child to have a predictable routine and not be be shuffled from one place to the next every day. The class sizes are small and almost every grade has an extra aide in the class for additional support/attention. The curriculum is robust and supports various learning styles and needs. Additionally, the program is well rounded with classes dedicated to the arts, French and physical and outdoor education. The student body is diverse and culture is explored and celebrated in school. If you’re looking for a smaller school with a supportive community feel, I suggest contacting RVS to book a tour; you won’t be disappointed!